Questions and input on shapeshifter books

[Koda]

Hello all, I hope everyone is having a great week and some good reads! :) I was looking for some people's opinions on some questions, I do apologize if you are seeing this on more than one group you are in as I am trying to get various thoughts and opinions on this.

From what I have seen, most books that are about or even vaguely consisting of shapeshifters seem like there is only one or two types at a time. On top of that, they seem to typically consist of wolves, bears, lions, dragons, maybe the occasional tiger... Are there any books with all types of animal shifters or do they mainly focus on one type?

Is there any interest in an actual world of animal shapeshifters? Or do readers want more magical beings as well such as vampires, witches, and other mythical type beings and beasts?

Do readers tend to prefer a longer book or a series of shorter installments? I suppose the better question to ask would be Do readers feel more comfortable purchasing a book from a first time author if it is offered in shorter installments (therefore giving a cheaper price to "try" them out)? Or do readers prefer to just buy one larger book?

Thank you for your time and input. Any opinions you share are most appreciated!

[Sandy]

Hey Koda. I agree, there are many out there that are incredibly similar. The one series that springs to mind because of how different & varied the shifters are is "the Others" series by Anne Bishop. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.
IMHO the vampire thing has been done to death. But as always, it boils down to the writing. If it's a great read, it's a great read regardless if you feel you've met the characters before.
As for size, personally I prefer a shorter book when trying out a new author (250-300 pages). And if I like it, hopefully there's another instalment coming soon.

[Joselyn]

for me I love both shapeshifters and magical beings, as Sandy said it will dpend on the writing and the story, you can always make those your own and spice things up however you like and usually a short read is better but at times i do prefer the longer ones

[Koda]

@Sandy Thank you for the series recommendation! I will have to look into them. I also think there are vampires aplenty and I don't have any interest in writing about them, at least not without something original coming to mind anyways. I just know some people want MORE. Whether that's magic, other beasts, shamanism, etc.

@Joselyn I've been getting a lot of back and forth answers on book sizes. Of course I understand that it all boils down to personal preference. It's just interesting seeing how many people are actually quite firm on which book size they prefer!

Thank you both so much for your input, it's definitely appreciated!

[T.L.]

If you're asking what you should write then I think there's scope enough for you to write what you want to.

I am currently writing a vampire romance novel (slight misnomer on that, but closest match).
My vamps are rustic living beasts.
And witches are heavily involved.
That's all I'll say for now as it's a WIP.

I asked a how sexy do you want your vampires to be question on another thread. Pretty much, write what you want. There'll be people who want to buy, others who won't. (I think I'm interpreting that correctly)

Shapeshifters are so diverse, I think anything goes.
They often get tied to Native American tribes, but it really doesn't have to be that way.

Have fun!

xx

[Victoria]

If you're asking what you should write, the answer is to write what you want to. If you want to only write about shifters. Go for it. If you want to add other creatures. Do that instead. If you only want to write about one type of shifter. Write about just one type. If you want more than one type of shifter in your book. Write about more than one type. As long as you enjoy writing it, and can make it work, anything goes. The same sort of rule applies to length or number of books: do what works for you, and what feels right to you.

If you're asking about what readers want, then the answer is that there isn't an answer. It varies from person to person. Some people prefer other creatures to be in the books too. Some people don't. Still others don't care either way. Some people prefer stand-alone books. Others prefer to have a long series they can get in to. Still others don't care either way. Similarly, when it comes to types of shifter that are different to the norm, there are people who would be glad to see new types, and people who prefer the old favourites such as werewolves and the like, while others don't care either way.

Personally, I belong to the "it doesn't matter either way" group. I've enjoyed books with only shifters, and I've enjoyed books with shifters mixed in with other creatures. I've enjoyed stand-alone books, and I've enjoyed books that come together to make one long series. Also, I'm happy to read about the usual kinds of shifters, but also happy to read about new ones the author has come up with. What matters to me, at the end of the day, is that the synopsis and title make the book sound good, and that I'm not disappointed by the book itself when I then sit down to read it.

[Bekka]

Is there any interest in an actual world of animal shapeshifters? Or do readers want more magical beings as well such as vampires, witches, and other mythical type beings and beasts?

I, for one, would be interested in a world of shapeshifters. Absolutely! In fact, make a note to notify me if you publish one. I'd be inclined to read it.

FYI, there's a trend in some circles these days toward shorter publications. The internet has shortened people's attention spans. The nice aspect about this for authors is the option of writing a series of short stories. Fans of your first short story will then follow your sequels (great way to build a following).